Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp expects to have star forwards Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane back for next Thursday's clash with Leicester.
The duo currently remain in Cameroon for the Africa Cup of Nations, where they will go head to head on Sunday as Egypt meet Senegal in the final - although the Pharaohs have called for the showpiece to be moved back a day after their gruelling penalty shootout win over the hosts last night.
Salah and Mane will obviously remain unavailable for Liverpool's FA Cup fourth-round tie against âCardiff on the same day, though Klopp is anticipating their return perhaps earlier than many might have expected.
After the visit of Championship opposition to Anfield, the Reds return to Premier League action following the winter break with a match against Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester on Merseyside on Thursday, before travelling to Burnley and then heading to Milan for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Serie A leaders Inter.
“I think they will be available for Thursday,” Klopp said when quizzed on Salah and Mane’s potential returns after AFCON ahead of the meeting with Cardiff.
“Whichever one wins will probably fly back to their home country for a parade. Whoever wins will be back here Tuesday or Wednesday.”
Liverpool are set to be boosted by the return of Harvey Elliott against Cardiff, with the former Fulham youngster now recovered from the broken ankle he sustained against Leeds in September.
Thiago Alcantara and Divock Origi are back in training, while Naby Keita is available after returning from his own AFCON stint with Guinea. The FA Cup tie will likely come too soon for new £40million signing Luis Diaz, meanwhile.
